“Withholding information is the essence of tyranny. Control of the flow of information is the tool of the dictatorship.” Bruce Colville

Strong words - what could they possibly have to do with Waiheke? Well, you don’t have to look further than the island’s press. You could be forgiven for thinking, if you were to read only the Gulf News and Waiheke Marketplace, that every person on the island supports the ‘Our Waiheke’ group’s bid to de-amalgamate from Auckland Council.

Some time ago, Gulf News imposed censorship by refusing to print letters in opposition to ‘OW’. This is not the first time that readers disagreeing with the Gulf News Green left wing bias have fallen foul of the paper and been silenced. And, without doubt, it will not be the last. By ‘controlling the flow of information’, Gulf News has portrayed the Waiheke community as some sort of homogeneous beast, this time being all in favour of the OW de-amalgamation diatribe. Similarly, social media sites set up to ‘inform’ the public about ‘OW’ were quick to stop any criticism of the group by blocking dissenting voices, especially when they asked awkward questions.

In reality, 80% of affected Waiheke residents and ratepayers have NOT signed the petition in support of the ‘OW’ application to the Local Government Commission for Waiheke to become a Unitary Authority and to leave Auckland Council. This was despite a six month campaign, enthusiastically backed by both local papers, to drum up as many signatories as possible. Instead of revealing that the widely publicised 'hikoi' in support of OW attracted only twenty or so of the usual Green rent-a-mob, the papers used the usual cunning shots to suggest a cast of hundreds.

Any decent journalist, editor or newspaper owner would at least have wondered why so few people showed their faces or signed the petition and would have undertaken some investigative journalism – on the people involved, their motives and the reality of what they were asking for. Instead of taking sides and stifling debate, they should have been providing a platform for it.

If the local papers had done their homework they would first have taken a careful look at the ‘Our Waiheke’ group’s application that has been sent to the Local Government Commission. Even a cursory examination would have shown the keen observer that it is embarrassingly frivolous and amateurish. Anyone with an ounce of common-sense would tell you that the whole OW approach is qualitative rather than quantitative, which means it is long on emotion but short on evidence and fact. It is highly selective in choosing case studies from small rural councils that have little in common with the actual situation facing Waiheke. It paints a picture which just isn’t the reality and envisages a future seen through remarkably distorted, rose-tinted glasses.

Such nonsense was bound to attract opposition. This and much more have been pointed out in a comprehensive submission to the LGC in opposition to the ‘Our Waiheke’ group’s application. Concerned residents have also started a letter writing campaign to MPs and Government Ministers in support of this opposing view.

It's a sad fact of life that investigative journalism has pretty much gone from our regular media, whether newspaper or television.

We now see a propaganda style of mindrule dictated by facebook type catchphrases and sound bites, with no effort being made to get to the facts.

Truth can be bent, re-written or put to the sword totally with the dumb masses unaware they have been manipulated into accepting significant changes that affect them.

Thus, global warming gains credence, even though there is actually no supporting evidence, the history of our country is re-written in spite of clear documentary evidence of the truth, and so it goes on.

Our protection against propaganda and brainwashing in the past has been the watchdogs of the media. For the most part this has gone.

We must now rely on getting the word out through channels such as facebook and blogs and sometimes, trying to present facts and reality to oppose the misinformation and downright lies driven by political egos and corporate greed can be a thankless task.

Reply

Roger Hutton

28/4/2016 01:34:56 pm

A quick perusal of today's Gulf News leaves no doubt that it is strongly biased and unwilling to present any view counter to the editors political leanings:-

a) A full page promotional piece for Meeuwsen and Our Waiheke.

b) A double page advertorial for Mike Lee written by the editor Liz Waters.

In this article the editor also allows Lee to praise the leadership of Walden and extoll the virtues of 'a well balanced board'.

Funny that!

In having to refer to an article published in the Herald in 2013, Waters perhaps unwittingly exposes us to the fact that he's done nothing of note since that time.

The article informs us that Lee has been 'persuaded' to stand again.

Persuaded by whom we are not told, but with the lyrics of a great Dire Straits song 'Money for Nothing' running through my head I bet it was a tough decision.

Will we also see double page spreads from the other candidates?

I wouldn't hold my breath!

c) Half a page on new candidates for the Local Board.

Unfortunately this is not an independent call but a promotional piece for 'Essentially Waiheke'.

d) A double page advertorial for BYO bags.

I know this because it is written by the founder of BYO Bag.

I would like to know why Countdown have bought into banning single-use plastic bags and replacing them with 'compostable' bags when research coming out of Australia shows that environmentally there is no difference/benefit to the environment.

Perhaps it has more to do with getting Waiheke customers to pay a little more for their groceries each week?

In support of this advertorial is the customary full page advertisement.

This leaves me wondering whether it really is about the environment or maybe it's designed to boost sales of BYO bags.

If I sound cynical I apologise but perhaps I just don't believe anything published in the Gulf News anymore.

e) Another promotional piece for the Local Board and WRT with what has almost become a weekly feature, Project Little Oneroa.

That's my rant finished.

But life can now return to normal in the knowledge that there won't be another Gulf News propaganda sheet for seven more days.

Reply

Carolyn Eichler

29/4/2016 10:38:22 am

Hi Jo,
Can we have some information/link on the "comprehensive submission to the LGC in opposition to the ‘Our Waiheke’ group’s application".
I want to put it on the Our Waiheke FB group so people can be as well informed as possible.
.

Reply

Jo Holmes

29/4/2016 03:04:30 pm

Carolyn. As your OW group purports to represent all the Waiheke community I'm sure you'll have a copy of the opposition submission by now.
I hope you will put it on your site and not censor the information as you have all those expressing opposing views. If you haven't got a copy yet I can only surmise it's because your actions have shown that you cannot be trusted.

Reply

Roger Hutton

2/5/2016 09:22:44 am

I would have thought that any submission made to the LGC was a matter between the LGC and the submitter(s).

If the submitter(s) wished to release copies of that document then that would be entirely at their discretion and at a time of their choosing.

Perhaps it will only be made public at the time of the LGC's hearing into Our Waiheke's submission?

Our Waiheke has shown through its chairman John Meeuwsen that it strongly opposes any anti-deamalgamation stance and in collusion with the Gulf News it has worked to effectively close down any opposition to its proposal.

I would certainly agree with your statement about 'trust' Jo.

I find Carolyn's desire to keep people well informed by publishing a copy of this submission on the Our Waiheke FB page somewhat fanciful. It appears to me to be little more than a fishing expedition.

If they have listened to the public in preparing their application then there should be nothing in any submission opposing their proposal that they wouldn't already be aware of.

PS

29/4/2016 02:58:35 pm

Those areas with weak local papers who aren't following local expenditure or decisions, combined with single party boards with no opposition are at the greatest risk. Report " Local Government the Mounting Risks"- named single party councils and weak media as two of the key issues influencing corruption in local governmet. As the boards are set to be given more power are the checks and balances in place to ensure honest governance. The best we can do at a local level in the mean time is vote in some fresh local non-party candidates, and some opposition. Which ever side of the political spectrum you're from democracy, questions and opposition are important as are the media.